Stand or holder for christmas trees or the like



April 15, 1947. J. A. woMAcK 2,419,183

` STAND OR HOLDER FOR CHRISTMAS TRLEES OR THE LIKE Filed July 9, 1943 Inventor Patented pr. 15, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE STAND R HOLDER FR CHRISTMAS" TREES 0R THE LIKE James A. Womack, Atlanta, Ga.

Application July 9, 1943, Serial No.- 494,0.62

7 Claims. 1

rIfhis invention is directed to an improvement in stands or holdersY for Christmas trees or the like, designed to provide a firm adjustable support for the tree regardless of the external shape thereof, and which requires no auxiliary connecting or fasteningimeans in its use.

The primary object ofY ythe present invention is the provision or atree stand. constructed of wood or the like, and capable of being stored or shipped in a knock-down condition, with the parts conveniently7` associated for use without requiring any toc-ls or fastening means.

A-.iurther object oitheinvention is the provision of a stand in which the parts for clamping thevtree in4 place are designed for clamp-ing adjustment to accommodate trees of varying diameters; are movable into tree-clamping relation by simple endwi-se movement; and cooperate with the tree by edge Contact to avoid interference to such clamping'by any irregular form of the tree.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a stand in whichthe clamping elements when moved 'intoclamping relation with the tree are,.incidentto their form and relation in the stand, automatically locked in operative position against displacing stresses, without the usey of` any auxiliary locking means.

A further object is the provision oi a stand of inexpensive material, requiringl but little mechanical work to form in desired shape, to thus provide an economical; simple construction,V requiring no particular skill to use, while remaining eiective for its purpose under alllconditions.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig; lisa view in elevation, partly in section, illustrating' the' standin operative relationto a tree.

Fig. 2 is a plan View of thefstand.

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3 3 of Fig. i.

Fig. 4 is a section on line ,4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5l isla broken'plan ofthe'ba'se, showing the parts separated.. ,f

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail, showing a slight modication.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View' further illustrating the operative connection between a clamping member and a locking brake.

The improved stand is preferably, but not necessarily constructed of wood, and made up in a way to utilize small and more or less waste lumber. In preferred working form, the stand comprises a base l, made up of two pieces of narrow elongated form I', in crossed relation, forming vthe four leg pieces as at 2. Each of the pieces i! is centrally cut-out so that they may belocked in crossedirelation: intr half-lap joint. Thus the center part of one piece lies uppermost, aslat 3, tope-utilized as hereinafterI stated and'the top edges of the twoI pieces l are in a common plane.

The upper edge surfaces: of the piecesV 2` are longitudinally groovedY at E, to receive the tongues 3, formed onthe lower edges/of lockingbraces l. The locking braces are designed torberfixedA with relation to the pieces 2, and if desired may be made inone" piecel therewith. For the Sake Vof economy, however, in permitting the' use of' smaller pieces; it is preferred thatV the pieces and locking braces l be Amade in separate pieces, though it is to be understoo'dthat they are tobe secured together'l fory use;y

Thezloeking bracesarettriangular in side-elevation being preferablyof;substantially right-,angled forni, with` the inner edgeY 9` at substantially a right angletothefpieces 2. The lockingY braces 'iy are secured to thev pieces 2 so that. their'inner edges'A are spaced an' appreciable distance'frornthe center of thebase to avoid anypossibleconportion of the edge/9.0i: the-locking braces are cut away at an upward andA` outward angle, as l at l t, this length lfconstituting thelocking area, and being formedy throughout such length with a dovetail channel H; as-shown in Fig. 3.

Clamping membersflZ areV provided'. for: cooperating with the locking channels Il, such members each' comprising a. triangular sectionlof wood of substantially right triangular' form. the base-edgel l3nt whichis formedwth a'dovetail tongue It to closely but slidably nt the channel l in the locking; brace. They upper! edge of the clamping member'i'sfof ther'naximmnlwidth of that' member, and vthe finclin'ed edge l fslo-pesout wardlyy from. ai verticalr line: passing" through' the juncture*ofithairrclinedand upper edge'.v This denes the; juncture, imlicated.l at I E', as` ai clamping' edge# ofVY the.' full Width of; thefclampingl memiberbuti at; .the innermost plane vertically ofitlie clamping membeniinor'dertoprovide but a single edge for cooperation with the tree, as will later appear.

The center piece 3 is provided with an up- Standirle spur, preferably a common nan H, which extends above the plane of the base. The tree to be supported is formed at the center of its lower` end with a hole to receive the spur l l, with the tree, indicated at I8, extending upward between the'clamping members. These members are simply pressed downward in the channels I I, until the edges Iii of the clamping members are 3 brought, into clamping contact with the side of the tree. The inclination of the channels Il to the vertical and the clamping pressure of the edges I6, provides a wedge action in the cooperation which constitutes in eiect a lock to prevent any relative movement of the clamping members lwhen in cooperation with the tree..

' ments, such as nails, screws, or other fastenings are needed or necessary, as the only action required to securely clamp the tree in position is a downward pressure on and movement of the clamping members until the edges de tightly engage the surface of the tree. The construction further lends itself to supporting the tree at an inclination if desired for any purpose. By obvious positioning of the clamping members at diiferent heights the tree may be held at any reasonable inclination, and as securely supported as in upright position.

If desired .the center 3 of the base may be provided with a hole 19, and a spur 20 driven into the bottom of the tree, the spur having a iiange 2| to limit its penetration of the tree and provide an end 23 to be entered into the hole I9 of the center. This modication is shown in Fig. 6.

From the above description it will be apparent that the improved tree stand is made simply and economically, requires few parts, and those of simple design, and more importantly requires no independent securing elements either in their assemblage or in their use in clamping the tree in supported position. While preferring that the stand be made of wood for economy and to avoid the use of scarce and prohibitive materials, it is of course apparent that any appropriate material may be used if desired and that such are complemental t the above description.

The stand as a whole is readily separable when desired for storage or shipment, requires no tools or skill for assemblage, and its application and use is so apparent when assembled that it can be eiectively employed by anyone without any particular knowledge,

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, is:

1. A stand for supporting a standard suchas a tree trunk, comprising a plurality of members supported in spaced relation around a center upon which the standard is to be placed, the members being spacedapart a distance to denne a circular area materially greater than the diameter of the 6 standard, each of said members being formed to have a surface inclined downwardly and inwardly toward said -center, and a clamping member 0 Number mounted for sliding movement upon each of said inclined surfaces for movement downwardly and inwardly along the supporting surface for locking engagement with a standard disposed upon said center.

2. A stand of the character stated in claim 1, in which each of said clamping members has a sharp corner for locking engagement with the standard.

3. A stand of the character stated in claim 1, in which each of said clamping members is substantially in the form of a truncated right triangle, the back edge of which engages said suriace and the corner forming the junction of the base and hypotenuse being adapted to have locking connection with the standard.

4. A stand as set forth in claim 1, in which the clamping members have dovetail tongue and groove connection with the supporting members.

5. A stand of the character stated comprising a base having a plurality of legs directed radially from a common center, an upstanding brace member supported upon each leg, the brace member having inner edges spaced from said center, a portion of each of said edges being inclined upwardly and outwardly with respect to said center, a clamping member supported by each brace and having a straight edge portion slidably connected with the inclined edge portion of the brace, the clamping members when moved downwardly on the said inclined portions of the b-races, moving together toward said center for clamping engagement with an object disposed upon said center.

6. A stand of the character stated in claim 5, in which said .clamping members have opposing and cooperating inner edges which are inclined downwardly and outwardly with respect to said center whereby to form a sharp clamping point.

7. A stand as set forth in claim 5, in which the clamping .members have dovetail tongue and groove connection with their respective bases and in which the clamping members have inner edges which are inclined downwardly and outwardly with respect to said center to form a sharp clamping point.

JAMES A. WOMACK..

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Bailey Sept. 21, 1909 Weinert May 15, 1900 Runser Aug. 31, 1926 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date 40,939 French Sept. 16, 1932 1st addition to Patent No. 722,678

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